Bear West: BBW Bear Shifter Mail Order Bride Romance (9 page)

And then it was all gone, and she was just Carla again, a normal human woman, panting and shaking a little with the aftershocks of orgasm.

Diego had come too, she realized, at the exact same moment as she had. They lay down on the bed, side by side, tangled in one other’s arms. There was no need to speak.

Carla slowly became aware that, although it was no longer the intense melding of souls she’d experienced during the moment of bonding, she could still sense Diego. She could tell what emotion he was feeling, and where he was. Of course, part of that was because he was here in her arms, but she knew that she would always be able to feel him, no matter how far apart they were.

"So this is what it’s like to have a mate,” she said.

“Yeah,” he replied, his voice just as full of wonder and curiosity as her own.

Carla laughed. “Didn’t you know?”

“Of course not! I’ve never had a mate before. You only get one, after all.”

Carla wound her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. “Good. Because I’m not planning on ever letting you go.”

Diego strode out of the barn, having just finished brushing down Cricket and making sure the horse had enough food and water for the night. He stretched his hands over his head, feeling the ache of a good day’s work in his muscles, and watched his breath turn into a misty cloud in front of his face.

In the distance, a gorgeous sunset was lighting up the sky in shades of orange and purple, the long thin clouds bright as burning threads. The snow on the ground reflected the light, looking like a golden blanket over the sleeping mountain landscape.

Andy stepped out of the barn door behind him, and laughed to see Diego looking longingly toward his house. “Go on, man. I’ll finish things up here.”

“I can stay, if you need me.”

Andy waved off his offer. “Go. And say hi to Carla for me, if you can remember anyone else once you see her.”

“Someday you’re going to meet your mate, you know.”

Andy flipped him off, but it was a friendly move.

Diego and Carla had been so wrapped up in each other since she’d moved in a few months ago that he hadn’t had much free time to spend with his friend, but wasn’t that how it was supposed to be, once you found your mate? It was a nesting instinct, his bear preparing his home for future cubs. For all his teasing, Andy understood; he knew that after the first rush of bonding faded, Diego would have time for other people again. Besides, Andy and Carla got along well, and had even become friends.

Diego started to walk toward his house, but before long he was jogging, and then running. He couldn’t help it. Each time he saw Carla it was like the first time all over again: the heavy thud of his heart, the butterflies in his stomach, and then the happiness and pride of knowing that she was his mate.

He jumped up the front steps and hurried through the door. Carla stepped out of the kitchen at the sound of his arrival, and without a word they were in one another’s arms, making out like teenagers. Her taste and smell, the warmth of her in his embrace and the softness of her curves against his chest – all of it meant
home
, and he was so grateful to have it.

After a very thorough greeting, he pulled back and sniffed the air.
Steak
, his bear identified.
And butter and garlic and oven-baked fries....
The words dissolved into a pleased rumble.

“Did you cook dinner?” Diego asked.

Carla shrugged, her cheeks turning pink. “I’m not much of a chef, but I found a recipe that I wanted to try out. It sounded easy, but I haven’t tasted it yet.”

“It smells wonderful.” Diego kissed her again, until the hungry growl of his stomach interrupted them. “If you need a taste-tester, I’m happy to volunteer.”

Carla rolled her eyes and stepped out of his arms, turning to go back into the kitchen. “It’s hasn’t even finished cooking. Go and wash up, and then you can help me set the table.”

“Okay,” Diego agreed, but he waited to watch her walk away, her hips and ass filling out her jeans in a way that almost made him want to forget about dinner.

But they could eat first, and then they’d have all night to enjoy one another. After all, they were officially married now and, more importantly, mated. They had made a home together, strengthened Diego’s hold on his territory enough that the Sullivan wolf pack had given up trying to claim it.

He headed for the sink, but the joy in his heart was far bigger than any one meal or one night could justify. Carla was his mate, and would be for the rest of their lives. His mate. Those words still provided him with a satisfaction that he had never known before.

Diego would never be alone or homeless again. He everything he needed in this one beautiful, brave, amazing woman.

His mate, now and forever.

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